Hundreds gather at vigil for Lizzi Marriott

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Published Saturday October 13, 2012 at 8:00 am

Updated Saturday October 13, 2012 at 10:11 pm

A Dover, N.H., martial arts instructor has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the disappearance of missing University of New Hampshire student Elizabeth Marriott, a 2011 Westboro High School graduate. In Westboro tonight, a vigil for Ms. Marriott, 19, was held at Bay State Commons Park Pavilion in downtown Westboro. Hundreds were on hand.

PHOTO/ T&G Staff/STEVE LANAVA

Hundreds gathered in Westboro tonight for a vigil in memory of Elizabeth "Lizzi" Marriott.

A Dover, N.H., martial arts instructor has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the disappearance of missing University of New Hampshire student Elizabeth Marriott, a 2011 Westboro High School graduate.

In Westboro tonight, a vigil for Ms. Marriott, 19, was held at Bay State Commons Park Pavilion in downtown Westboro. Hundreds were on hand.

Seth Mazzaglia, 29, is scheduled to be arraigned in Dover on Monday in connection with Ms. Marriott's death.

Authorities are still looking for Ms. Marriott's body, according to Susan Morrell, senior assistant New Hampshire attorney general. Her car, a tan 2001 Mazda Tribute, has been found in a UNH parking lot in Durham.

Authorities would not say whether Mr. Mazzaglia had confessed or reveal any other specifics of the case.

Ms. Marriott's aunt, Rebecca L. Tyning, said this afternoon that Mr. Mazzaglia and Ms. Marriott met in July when both were working at a Target store in Greenland, N.H.

According to Seth J. Mazzaglia's website, he lives at 1 Mill St., Dover. Authorities searched an apartment building on Mill Street overnight.

In a statement, Ms. Marriott's family asked for privacy but thanked friends, the University of New Hampshire, local, state and national law enforcement authorities.

"This is the worst parents' nightmare, a missing child and with an unfavorable outcome," the family said. "Please pray for the dedicated rescue professionals who continue to look for Lizzi. We need them to find her and bring her home."

Mr. Mazzaglia's website says he is an experienced actor, writer and fight choreographer who has worked in professional and community theaters around southern New Hampshire for years. He had hoped to break into film.

Ms. Marriott was a musician in high school and won a music scholarship. She was majoring in marine biology.

According to Mr. Mazzaglia's website, he most recently played Capt. Keller in Garrison Player's "The Miracle Worker." His Facebook page lists American sign language as well as English under languages he speaks.

The website says he is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. He has taught martial arts since 2004.

Ms. Marriott has been missing since Tuesday night, when she attended a class at the university and then made plans to visit friends in Dover.

Family members and friends blanketed the Dover area Friday with colored fliers bearing two photos of her and the statement that her cellphone was last used in Dover at 10:11 p.m. Tuesday. Her family had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.

This afternoon, the Marriott family was sequestered in their Westboro home. Police have blocked access to the private road where they live. An assistant N.H. attorney general was in town today.

A New Hampshire newspaper, Foster's Daily Democrat, reported today that authorities told Ms. Marriott's family to discontinue their search for her. The family had been working with a nonprofit group that helps the families of missing people map out potential places they could have traveled.

Last night, an island in Portsmouth was closed in search of a body, but authorities wouldn't say whether the search was related to Ms. Marriott's disappearance.

Yesterday, Lizzi Marriott's grandmother Susan Marriott was tending the phone at the Chester home where her granddaughter lives while other family members were out handing out fliers and searching for her.

Ms. Marriott had lived with an aunt in Chester, N.H., while commuting to the Durham campus.

Her grandmother said the FBI and other investigators had been at the house for much of the day yesterday interviewing family members.

"She is a good student, and she's hard-working," her grandmother said. "She is a person that doesn't have a multitude of friends, but she has good friends - a small group of good friends."

Senior Assistant Attorney General Jane Young asked that anyone who has information that could help in the case to call state police at (603) 271-3636.

A family friend, Dawn Downey of Westboro, described Marriott as an attractive young woman who was active in chorus in high school and was prom queen during her junior year. Marriott was helping to put herself through college by working at Target.

"She was just a good girl. That's probably what got her in trouble. She was too trusting and she was beautiful. Those two things will kill you," Mrs. Downey said.

Downey's daughter Nicole, who was Ms. Marriott's best friend, described Ms. Marriott as a "fun-loving and goofy" young woman who got along easily with others and had a wide circle of friends. She also was a good student who loved animals and science and volunteered at the New England Aquarium in Boston, Nicole Downey said.

"It was a shock to me when I found out she was missing. That was not like her at all," she said. "She was just all around a great person. I don't know why anyone would want to hurt her."

University officials were deeply saddened to learn of the murder of 19-year-old Elizabeth “Lizzi” Marriott, a sophomore in the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture at the University of New Hampshire, who had been missing since Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012. Marriott, who was residing with family in Chester while commuting to UNH, was studying marine biology. She was in her first semester at UNH.

“We were greatly saddened to learn of Lizzi's death and we extend our deepest sympathies to her family and friends,” said UNH President Mark W. Huddleston. “Lizzi was a new member of the university community and will be missed in our classrooms. Our focus now will be on supporting our campus community during this difficult time.”

A moment of silence in Lizzi's honor will be observed at the beginning of tonight's men's hockey game.

University officials were also shocked to learn a UNH alum has been charged in connection with Marriott's death. Seth Mazzaglia graduated in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in theater.

The UNH counseling staff will be available to students who want to speak with someone. The UNH Counseling Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week, and 24-hour help is available to anyone by calling 603-862-2090.

Linda Bock of the Telegram & Gazette staff contributed to this report.